No one knows how the judges will decide, Ms. Potter said.

As she sought a way to write about these themes, Ms. Potter came back to her own experience.

Ms. Potter has been immersed in the arts from an early age.

Supporting herself through her work, Ms. Potter learned to live on very little.

But success seems only to have confirmed Ms. Potter in her path of creative independence.

"You can actually see the transformation in these kinds of programs," Ms. Potter said.

Their house has a winter view of the river, they have been told, and he and Ms. Potter can't wait to see if it's true.

Ms. Potter said a criminal's motivation, including prejudice, can always be taken into account at his sentencing.

"We don't know if he could issue an executive order overriding the law," Ms. Potter said.

Old houses speak to Ms. Potter, and she translates what they say.